Retour au paradis

This is not a review about the film, (which is amiable enough but we have all seen better) but a complaint. Yet look at the storyline regarding this movie written by Les Adams, completely ruins the film which we don't need to watch as he has told us the complete 'plot.' This happens far too often in my view, okay don't read the storyline, if so what is the point of putting it therea And as I finish this rant, there is a question, does this review contain spoilers

I have done many a review of Hary Cooper films and one thing has become apparent to me, he works best as either an action hero or with an excellent leading lady ( such as Barbara Stanwyck). Cooper in Samoa just does not cut it. There are very few Cooper films where he sucked: One Sunday Afternoon,, Design For Living, Good Sam, Love In The Aftermath. And Return To Parade. Even films of his that were no good, he gives a decent performance ( like Alice In Wonderland). Is it his worst film? No that is Design For Living from Lowe's by One Sunday Afternoon but this film does not cut it for me. 2 stars. Mostly for the scenery.

This is a very unusual Gary Cooper film, quite out of the ordinary, Gary Cooper beach-combing in the South Seas, escaping from a troublesome past, probably the war, and finding new trouble and a second world war in Samoa. It's beautifully made efficiently directed by Mark Robson and has a great story to tell.

It's James Michener's story like continuing from "South Pacific" to another island with another human wreck of the war. Gary Cooper is a hard Irishman used to having to fight to get out of trouble and with a very hard and stubborn head. He gets into total conflict with a local tyrant of a missionary, who bullies the whole island, but the people, all Polynesians, see Gary as their possible saviour, and the conflict is gradually resolved as Gary and Barry Jones learn to cooperate. Domestic trouble awaits, though, and after a personal tragedy he finds himself obliged to continue running away from his fate. After many years he returns to the island just in time for new trouble from the second world war.

Curiously enough, this is not a very renowned or well known film, although it must be ranked among the best of its genre. It's filmed on location, and the insight into the life on the island among the natives is the chief asset and charm of the film. Gary Cooper makes a very convincing performance as a man of destiny having a hard time dealing with it, but ultimately he seems to come to terms with it. The happy end is perhaps the only objectionable detail of the film, which alone is not quite convincing. Like after "South Pacific", you expect the story to continue.

"Return to Paradise" is a very strange Gary Cooper movie. His character is an odd one indeed--very admirable and brave on one hand and a total jerk on the other. The overall film, as a result is entertaining but far from satisfying.

The film begins with Mr. Morgan (Cooper) arriving on a small Polynesian island. The place is sort of a theocracy run by a VERY puritanical man, the Reverend Corbett (Barry Jones). However, Corbett and his personal band of thugs are quick to enforce their laws...but seem to take delight in not informing Morgan of the laws first! After he is attacked by these bullies, Morgan stands up for himself...and earns the respect of the locals who are getting sick of Corbett's mistreatment. Ultimately, and reluctantly, Corbett's thugs are chased off and the islanders are happy...and Corbett changes and becomes less nasty and puritanical over time. What also happens is that Morgan's new woman, Maeva, becomes pregnant and eventually dies in childbirth. At this point, Morgan shows that although he seemed like a pretty cool guy through much of the film, now he is a jerk, as he leaves his new daughter with her grandmother and he leaves the island.

Nearly two decades pass and WWII has broken out. Morgan finally returns to the island and finds he's sort of a folk hero...and Corbett is still there but has mellowed considerably. He also finds his daughter and their relationship is clearly problematic. It becomes more problematic later after some American airmen are stranded on the island...and Morgan begins acting like an overbearing and protective father...which makes no sense considering he'd abandoned this daughter for all these years.

The bottom line is that Morgan's character isn't at all consistent and the film felt frustrating as a result. Not a terrible film but one that sometimes just didn't make a lot of sense. Plus who wants to see a film where the leading man is actually a big hypocritical weasel?!

Return to Paradise has a slow start, so if you're not a Gary Cooper fan, just hang in there and wait for it to get better. Trust me, it does. When I first read the synopsis it seemed like a comedy: Gary Cooper goes to a missionary-run island and shakes things up. How was I to know it was a James Michener classic? The exposition when Gary comes to the island, meets missionary Barry Jones, and settles into his grumpy isolation, is a bit slow. But a lot happens in this story; you just have to give it time.

If the protagonist were a different actor, it would have been an infinitely better movie. How many times have I said that about a Gary Cooper movie? To give him as much credit as I can, he does try his best in this movie. He actually does some acting! Still, he may be doing his best, but it's not as good as someone else's best.

I'd like to refrain from telling you about the plot, because it's very interesting to let it all unfold in Michener time and drama. Gary starts off the movie as a rude loner who likes his freedom and doesn't care who he offends. Barry Jones has to accept the intruder, but it makes things harder when one of the local girls is drawn to the aloof man. In addition to the unorthodox romance, I particularly liked Barry and Gary's unique friendship and how it changes throughout the years. You'll also get to see some beautiful location shoots, and as you might expect if you know Michener's work, it's a tearjerker. Enjoy!